Russian and Ukrainian Architecture

Foreigners are often unfamiliar with Russian and Ukrainian architecture. Most everyone knows about the onion domed cathedrals and the dull and dreary construction from the Soviet era, but little else. The truth is, Russia and Ukraine have gone through many periods of architectural development, from wooden-vernacular architecture that predates Kiev Rus’, to 21st century skyscrapers that are starting to dominate Moscow’s skyline. Even the Soviet era, which has gained a rather negative stereotype, managed to construct many great architectural wonders.

Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular Architecture includes non-professional, civilian constructed buildings including homes, granaries, workshops, windmills, etc. Also known as folk or traditional architecture, construction skills were based on local traditions and knowledge handed down generation to generation. Wood, clay and thatched roofs were primary building materials in most vernacular architecture of Russian and Ukrainian peasants.

Wooden Churches

While masonry churches were predominate in urban areas, wooden churches were more common in Russian and Ukrainian villages. In the tradition of vernacular architecture, construction skills were passed through the generations. The most captivating of these churches were built without the use of nails. Made of scribe-fitted horizontal logs and/or lumber with interlocking corner joinery, these structures have proven to be most durable. In fact, Saint Ascension Cathedral in Almaty (yellow and green in photo), was one of just a few structures to survive a massive 10 pts on the Richter scaleearthquake in 1911.

Saint George Church (15th cent.)

Drohobych, Ukraine

Church of Annunciation (1587)

Kolomyia, Ukraine

Holy Spirit Church (1598)

Rohatyn, Ukraine

Church of the Assumption (1623)

Pistyn village, Ukraine

Birth of Virgin Mary
Church (17th cent.)

Vorokhta, Ukraine

Old Ascension Church (1717)

Torzhok, Tver Oblast

Kazan Chapel from Ilim Fortress (1679)

Taltsy, Irkutsk Oblast

Assumption Church
(1674)

Varzuga, Murmansk Oblast

Kizhi Pogost
(18th century)

Karelia, Russia

Saint Ascension Cathedral
(20th cent.)

Almaty,
Kazakhstan

Kremlins and Fortified Monasteries

Kremlin refers to a central
fortress or citadel that was built
as a means of defense for the
adjoining Russian
city. Within surrounding walls,
towers and battlements of the
kremlin you would typically find a
palace, cathedrals, government
offices and munitions stores.
Religious monasteries also constructed fortified walls as
a means of defense. While many of
these historical forts are now in ruins
or virtually non-existent (particularly old
wood fortifications), some have been
preserved and are well worth a
visit.

Moscow Kremlin

(Veliky) Novgorod Kremlin

Kazan Kremlin

Suzdal Kremlin

Solovetsky Monastery

Pskov Fortress

Makaryev Convent (former Monastery)

Astrakhan Kremlin

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

Ivangorod Fortress

Oreshek Fortress (Leningrad Oblast)

Fortress of Ladoga (Leningrad Oblast)

Alexandrov Kremlin

Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Monastery of Saint Euthymius

Novodevichy Convent (Moscow)

Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery

Rostov Veliky Kremlin

Smolensk Kremlin

Tobolsk Kremlin

Tula Kremlin

Zaraysk Kremlin

Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery

Korela Fortress (Leningrad Oblast)

Voskresensky Monastery (Istra)

Izborsk Kremlin (Pskov Oblast)

Architecture of Kievan Rus’

The churches of Rus’, built after
the adoption of Christianity in 988,
were strongly influenced by
the Byzantine architecture. Only a
handful of churches predating the
13th century Mongol invasion have
survived to present. Those that
weren’t destroyed, like Saint Sophia
Cathedral to the left, were
externally rebuilt in Baroque style
(see pic below of its current
Ukrainian Baroque shell). One of the
few truly authentic examples of
Kievan Rus’ architecture (despite
18th century restoration) is the
Golden Gates of Vladimir (1158-1164), below.

Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kiev

1037 (restored
in Baroque 1740)

Golden Gate in Kiev, Ukraine

1037 (1982
reconstruction)

Pyatnitskaya
Church, Chernigov

1198-1199 (restored 1943-1962)

Church of St. Basil, Ovruch
(Ukraine)

12th cent. (restored 1907-1911)

Golden Gate in Vladimir, Russia

1158-1164 (18th cent. restoration)

Church of the Intercession on the Nerl

1158-1165 (Bogolyubovo,
Russia)

Novgorod and Pskov Schools of Architecture

The 1237-1240 invasion of Rus’ by
the Mongolians postponed the
advancement of East Slavic
architecture by several generations.
Two bastions of Rus’ that escaped
the Mongol invasion, were Novgorod
and Pskov. While it wasn’t the most
prosperous of times (due to a loss
of their main economic partners),
each school continued to build
cathedrals, preserving and
developing their own unique style.

Novgorod (Velikiy Novgorod)

Boris and Gleb Church (1536)

Church of the Myrrh-Bearers (1537)

Church of the Nativity of Christ (1630)

Our Saviour on-Nereditsa (1198)

St. Martyr Prokopius on-Torg (1537)

Sts. Peter & Pavel in Kogevniki (1406)

Church of the Life-Giving Trinity (1557)

Theodore Stratelates on-Stream (1361)

Transfiguration on-Iliyina Street (1374)

Saint Simeon the Righteous (1467)

Protection of the Holy Virgin (1399)

Siant John on-River Vitka (1384)

Stratelates on-Shchirkova Street (1294)

Transfiguration Cathedral (1566)

Cathedral of Saint George (1130)

Transfiguration on-Kovalev (1345)

Pskov

Saints Peter and Paul from Bui (1373)

Resurrection from Stadischa (1532)

Life-giving Trinity in Ostrov (1543)

Life-giving Trinity, Domozhirka (1558)

Church of Archangel Michael (1462)

Saint Nicholas from Usokha (1535)

Moscow and Yaroslavl Schools of Architecture

A derivative of the Early-Moscow
school and a Northern style
of wooden architecture (particularly
of the Arkhangelsk region), Moscow and Yaroslavl schools
are the most well-known styles of
Russian architecture. Their
characteristic onion domes and
tent-like roofs, like that of Saint
Basil’s, are one of the iconic
symbols of Russian culture.

Moscow School

Annunciation Cathedral,
Kremlin (1572)

Transfiguration Church
(16th century)

Saint Basil’s Cathedral (1561)

Nativity of Holy Virgin in Putinki (1652)

Annunciation Cathedral, Murom (1664)

Nativity of Holy Virgin, Kargopol (1680)

Trinity Cathedral, Murom (1643)

Assumption Church, Vladimir (1649)

Church of Sergius of Radonezh (1670s)

Nicholas in Khamovniki Church (1682)

Our Lady Hodegetria, Vyazma (1630s)

Our Lady Church, Taininskoye (1677)

Saviour Church on-Setun (1676)

Life-Giving Trinity in Nikitnikah (1634)

St. George in Yendovo Church (1653)

Kazan Church, Markovo (1680)

Trinity Cathedral, Solikamsk (1697)

Saint Nicholas at Bersenevke (1657)

Life-Giving Trinity in Ostankino (1683)

Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral (1636)

Ascension Church, Veliky Ustyug (1648)

Yaroslavl School

Annunciation Church (1702)

Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki (1673)

Our Savior on-the-City Church (1672)

Tikhvinskaya Church (1686)

Fyodorovskaya Church (1687)

Church of the Epiphany (1693)

Our Lady of Vladimir and St John (1693)

Elijah the Prophet Church (1650)

St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker (1672)

Resurrection of Christ, Uglich (1677)

St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo (1687)

Russian Baroque (also Ukrainian and Siberian Baroque)

Late in the 17th century wealthy
Russian merchant families started to
call for stronger ties with the rest
of Europe. They sponsored the
construction of churches in a new
style similar to European Baroque.
Some of the first schools of this
style were Naryshkin (below) and
Stroganov – named after the families
that financed construction. In the
footsteps of Russian Baroque, styles
of Ukrainian and Siberian Baroque
soon followed. While there were
slight variations, the three are
more correctly grouped in a singe
style – that of East Slavic
Baroque.

Protection of Holy Virgin in Fili (1693)

Saviour Church, Ubory (1697)

Assumption of Mary at Pokrovka (1699)

Stroganov Church, N. Novgorod (1703)

Epiphany Cathedral, Moscow (1696)

Assumption Cathedral, Astrakhan(1710)

Gate Church, Istra (1697)

Trinity Church, Strogino (1697)

Saint Sophia, Kiev (rebuilt 1740)

Great Lavra Belltower, Kiev (1745)

Vydubychi Monastery, Kiev (18th cent.)

Pochayiv Lavra (17th & 18th centuries)

Archangel Michael, Stanislavl (1696)

Saints Peter and Paul, Kazan (1726)

Holy Cross Church, Irkutsk (1758)

Peter & Paul Cath., Severouralsk (1760)

Resurrection Church, Tomsk (1807)

Trinity Cathedral, Tyumen (1715)

St. Nicholas Church, Nyrob (1704)

Protection Cath., Krasnoyarsk (1795)

Saviour Church, Tyumen (1796)

Holy Trinity Cath., Verkhoturye (1709)

Palm Sunday Church, Totma (1794)

Sign Cathedral, Tyumen (1768-1862)

Foreign Styles

During your travels throughout Russia, Ukraine and nations of the
former Soviet Union you are sure to
find some foreign styles of
architecture. Kazakhstan, it’s
central Asian neighbors, and Crimea
are home to some wonderful monuments
of Muslim building, while Moscow,
Saint Petersburg, Belarus and
western Ukraine are home to many
excellent examples of western and
central European styles.

Juma Jami Mosque, Crimea (1564)

Khans Palace, Crimea (16th-18th cent.)

׺bek Han Mosque, Crimea (16th cent.)

Prophet Elijah Church, Tsypino (1755)

Senate Building, Moscow Kremlin(1788)

Kazan Cathedral, St Petersburg (1811)

Moscow Kremlin reconstruction (1775)

Admiralty Building, St Petersburg (1823)

Petrovsky Palace, Moscow (1780)

Pashkov House, Moscow (1786)

Pushkin Arts Museum, Moscow (1912)

Big Tsaritsyno Palace, Moscow (1796)

Russian Revival Architecture

In the latter half of the 19th
century nationalism started to grow
amongst Russian intelligentsia. This
led to the construction of Russian
cathedrals and buildings that drew
inspiration from traditional forms
of Russian architecture,
particularly that of the Moscow
school (see above).

Kazan Church, Zelenogorsk (1915)

Basin’s House, St Petersburg (1879)

St Michael’s Cathedral, Izhevsk (1907)

Savior-on-Blood, St Petersburg (1907)

GUM Department Store, Moscow (1893)

Vladimir Lenin Museum, Moscow (1893)

Igumnov House, Moscow (1893)

Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (1904)

Neo-Byzantine Style of Architecture

Like Russian Revival, the
Neo-Byzantine style of architecture
flourished in the latter half of the
19th century and continued to be
used right up until the First World
War.

Naval Cathedral, Kronstadt (1913)

Annunciation Cathedral, Kharkiv (1901)

St John Convent, St Petersburg (1902)

Kazan Church, St Petersburg (1912)

Ascension Cath., Novocherkassk (1905)

Old Rus’ Revival

The latest of the “revival”
styles of architecture, used just
prior to the 1917 Russian
Revolution, was Old Rus’ Revival.
Unfortunately this style, along with
the other revival styles of the late
19th century, suffered wide scale
demolition by the Communists for
“lacking historical value”.

Church of St Sergius on Kulikovo Field

Ivanovka, Tula
Oblast (1917)

Our Lady the Sign on Tverskaya Street

Saint Petersburg (1908)

Holy Image of Our Saviour
Church

Abramtsevo (1882)

Church of the Resurrection in Tezino

Vichuga, Ivanovo Oblast (1911)

Church of Our Lady of Kazan (1907)

Murgeyevsky, Ivanovo Oblast

Transfiguration of Our Saviour Church

Volodymyrivka, Ukraine (1913)

Protection of the Holy Virgin Church

Parkhomivka, Ukraine (1907)

Old Believer Church of St Nicholas

Moscow (1921)

Protection of the Holy Virgin Church

Moscow (1912)

Protection of the Holy Virgin Cathedral

Borovsk, Kaluga Oblast (1912)

Constructivist Architecture

Constructivist Architecture
emerged from a wider
Constructivist Art movement that
sought to extend the formal language
of abstract art into practical
design work. A forerunner to later
developments in building and design,
this ultra-modern form of
architecture flourished in the
Soviet Union during the 1920s and
early 1930s before falling out of
favor with Stalin around 1932.

Tatlin’s Tower, St. Petersburg

designed in 1920, but never built

Novo-Ryazanskaya Street Garage

Moscow (1929)

The print shop of “Ogonyok” magazine

Moscow (1932)

Zuev Workers’ Club, Moscow (1928)

Kauchuk Factory Club, Moscow (1929)

Krasniye Vorota Metro, Moscow (1935)

Intourist Garage, Moscow (1934)

Mosselprom Building , Moscow (1924)

Izvestia Building, Moscow (1926)

Tank Engine Building, Moscow (1930)

Textile Institute, Moscow (1938)

Melnikov House, Moscow (1929)

Tower of the Red “Nailer” Factory

Saint
Petersburg (1931)

Likachev Palace of Culture

Moscow (1938)

“Chekists Village” – now Iset Hotel

Ekaterinburg (1933)

Rusakov Workers’ Club, Moscow (1928)

Gospro building, Kharkiv (1928)

Lenin’s Mausoleum, Moscow (1930)

Narkomfin Building, Moscow (1930)

Svoboda Factory Club, Moscow (1929)

Zamoskvorechye flats, Moscow (1920s)

Dynamo building, Moscow (1930)

MPS building, Moscow (1930s)

Shukhov Tower, Moscow (1922)

Stalinist Architecture

Linked to the
Socialist Realism school of art
is that of Stalinist Architecture.
Also known as Stalinist
Gothic or Socialist Classicism, this
era of Russian and Ukrainian
architecture lasted from 1933 until
1955, when Nikita
Khruschev condemned the style as
“excessive”. Nevertheless, this
period left a indelible mark. As a
result of post-war rebuilding,
Stalinist Architecture is still very
much prevalent in the central
avenues and metros of many east
European cities.

5-Storey Buildings (Пятиэтажки)

Even prior to Stalin’s death in
1953, it was evident that
construction had to be made more
efficient to meet the housing
crisis. Under the tenure of Nikita
Khrushchev housing was truly
simplified with the advent of
5-storey buildings or
“pyati-etazhki”. Mass-produced with
nothing but concrete panels, their
similar “box-like” appearance is a
major reason for the negative
perception of East European,
socialist era architecture.

Late Soviet Era Architecture

As the 1960s turned into the 1970s, Leonid Brezhnev
started to relax architectural
controls. Apartment blocks grew to
include extra floors, external
decorations and mosaics were added
for aesthetics, and architects
designing public buildings were
given much more freedom to vary
themes. Vast housing massifs (bottom
left) also became common in larger
cities. Despite the relaxed
controls, the state still had its
say on what could and couldn’t be
built – with an emphasis on
functionality over beauty.

Modern Architecture

Following the end of the Soviet
Union building controls were at
long last abolished. The 1990s saw
some turbulent economic times, but
as time progressed and money started
to flow in from Russia’s great oil
and commodity wealth, modern
architecture also started to appear
at an ever quickening rate. One of the best
examples of modern architecture is the Moscow
International Business Center
as seen in the photos.